By all accounts, Kevin Durant has cut all ties with the Brooklyn Nets. After making an ultimatum to team owner Joe Tsai and watching him choose Sean Marks and Steve Nash over him, he is now preparing for a stand-off that could extend well into the 2022-23 season.
At this point, the relationship between Durant and the Nets appears to be unsalvageable after all that has happened over the past few years. But for Jeff Van Gundy, former NBA coach turned play-by-play announcer, the situation doesn’t have to be over.
According to him, all could be resolved if KD simply plays for the Nets and starts winning a lot of games.
(via SiriusXM NBA Radio)
“It’s understandable that both sides do what’s best for them. If Durant did request a trade and he’d rather work in another place, that’s certainly his right. But it’s also the right of the team to say, ‘no I think we’re better with you than without you.’ [Durant] just seems to love basketball and I’ve never seen him short-cut in a game or give less than his best. So if they do bring him back, I think these things can be worked out. I know it seems like it’s so dramatic right now and how could they ever speak again — I don’t think it’ll be that big of a problem. It will be an awkward couple of days but then you win three in a row. Because I think if Simmons comes back, Harris comes back, Irving’s in the right space and he’s able to play, they got a really good team. Winning helps camouflage any bad feelings.”
"Winning helps camouflage any bad feelings."
Jeff Van Gundy tells @TheFrankIsola and @Mitch_Lawrence the situation between Kevin Durant and the Nets can be fine if the 2x Finals MVP stays in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/hEQooAScOv
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) August 14, 2022
It’s easy to forget just how stacked this current Nets team is. With Durant, Irving, and Simmons surrounded by Joe Harris, Seth Curry, Nic Claxton, and Patty Mills, they are one of the best teams in the league on paper.
While there are obviously a lot of issues that need to be worked out, Durant could thrive with the Nets if he just sticks around long enough to see it through.
